According to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association obese people can gain extra years of life after weight loss surgery – halving their risk of dying early from any cause.

New evidence from the study shows bariatric surgery – giving people procedures such as gastric bands – can improve long-term survival for patients from any age group. This reportedly works by cutting diabetes and other obesity-related conditions including heart problems. The research also shows that it has become safer in recent years.

The study found obese people had a 53% lower risk of dying from any cause at five to fourteen years after weight loss surgery. The study involved 2500 obese patients and nearly 7500 matched control receiving care at medical centres in the US Department of Veterans Affairs health system.

“We have tracked a large group of patients for a long enough time that we can clearly see a strong link between bariatric surgery and long-term survival,” says study leader Dr David Arteburn.

“As time passes, the risk of dying among the patients who’ve had surgery appears to be diverging from those of the matched controls who haven’t had surgery.”

Operations for weight loss surgery such as the fitting of a gastric band or gastric bypass surgery are available to treat obesity by reducing the amount of food eaten.

The World Health Organisation warns obesity has reached epidemic proportion globally, with at least 2.8 million people dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese.

It warns 44 % of the diabetes burden, 23% of the heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of the burden of certain cancers are attributable to people being overweight or obese.

With the end of one year and beginning of another year, clinic comparison website WhatClinic.com have taken time to have a look at cosmetic surgery trends in 2014 and come up with their own predictions for cosmetic surgery in 2015.

They have identified the top cosmetic surgery trends of last year. And what was the most popular?

Rhinoplasty, better known as nose jobs. This procedure rose by 1,200% in 2014, while nasal tip surgery saw an increase of 763%.

Last year, according to WhatClinic’s research, also saw enquiries for mini facelifts increase as well as eye-lift surgery, which have increased by 578%.

Combating weight issues was popular last year too, with mini abdominoplasty, full abdominoplasty and lipoabdominoplasty being popular choices.

Liposuction is the third most popular surgical treatment in the UK, with fat transfer close behind in fourth and tummy tucks in seventh place, in terms of enquiries. Despite already being constantly popular, enquiries for liposuction have risen by 69% in the past 12 months, while fat transfer enquiries are up 166% and tummy tucks up 68%.

The director of WhatClinic.com said: “Not only is the market huge – it’s growing at a phenomenal rate. With obesity a growing concern, it’s no surprise that bariatric procedures are on the rise. These figures confirm that in the UK, breast augmentation and nose jobs are more popular then ever.

“With demand so high, it’s crucial that patients have access to information about the credentials and qualifications of their chosen practitioner. We advise anyone considering going under the knife, to find a practitioner who is qualified, experienced and totally transparent about the risks involved. Don’t be afraid to ask about qualifications and insurance cover.”

Supermodel and host of “America’s Next Top Model” Tyra Banks is an internationally renowned star, who, like many supermodels, never seems to look a day older. So we’ve compiled her top tips for anti-ageing.

“I’m obsessed with moisture. I’m not afraid of oils. I think my obsession with moisturizing is one of the reasons I’ve held onto not looking my age.

Tyra credits her mother for her skin care knowledge and claims to follow her advice about moisturising immediately after a shower, even now. Keeping to a strict skin care regime, Tyra opens up about her face washing ritual.

“I wash my makeup off before I go to bed 99.9 percent of the time, but sometimes when I’m too tired I won’t. Back in the day when I wasn’t wearing non-comodogenic makeup, I’d break out, so I really feel beautiful doing the ritual of washing off my makeup.”

Dame Jenni Murray has made a career out of asking difficult questions so it is no surprise that the Woman’s Hour presenter is equally direct when it comes to her own life.

“I am obese and I need to do something about it”

Over the years Jenni has tried every diet going. She’s consumed cabbage soup in large quantities, cut out carbohydrates and a few years ago did actually lose 7 stone. The only problem was that she put it back on, which is why she is now planning to have a gastric bypass.

“This is not about vanity, it’s about my health. I’ve had cancer, I’ve had a hip replacement and I want to live for a while longer yet. Surgery is not a quick fix, for me, it’s the only fix.”

The 64 year old admits that her weight has always yo-yoed, but it was when she hit 50 that she began to resemble a “blow up balloon”.

It was then that she carried out extensive research into the causes of obesity and is now sufficiently convinced that if she doesn’t have surgery she will never be able to shift the extra weight.

“Initially I was thinking of having a gastric band, but the more research I did, the more I realised that I would be better having a bypass. A band basically creates a new mini stomach, which limits the amount of food you can eat because you become fuller quicker. A bypass, which diverts food from the upper stomach to the small intestine not only reduces the amount of food you eat but also the amount absorbed.”

When Murray first wrote about the possibility of surgery this summer she admitted she was worried about the response.

“It was a concern but there wasn’t a backlash. I was very careful how I wrote that piece. I wanted to be honest, but I also wanted to address some of the misconceptions surrounding the whole issue of weight loss surgery.”

The 45 year old actress shocked her fans last week when she emerged on the red carpet looking a far cry from fresh faced Bridget Jones – the character she is best known for playing.

According to a top cosmetic surgeon Renee may have had a little help to achieve this new look.

“It is apparent that she has undergone a number of subtle cosmetic procedures to change the appearance of her face.”

“Renee has undergone some facial procedures to contour the shape of her face including fillers, around her nasolabial folds and cheeks to give her face a fuller appearance, plus Botox around the brow area to tighten her skin and make it appear more youthful.”

“The most significant procedure appears to be Blepharoplasty (eye bag removal and eye lid reduction) which has opened up her eyes and face dramatically. In her youth Renee had heavier lids which after time may cause a ‘droopy’ or ‘tired appearance’ but in more recent images it is clear she’s had some skin and or fat removed which has opened up her eyes.”

There has been no confirmation from Renee that she has had cosmetic surgery, a spokesperson for the actress has been contacted for comment.

For more than a decade Judy Murray has sat in the players’ box at Wimbledon, watching her son, Andy Murray. But now she says she should no longer be accused of looking like a “scary monster” after finding Botox and a passion for fashion.

“I’ve always been seen as the mum who sits on the sidelines, pulls faces, waves her fist and looks like some kind of scary monster,” said Mrs Murray,55, in an interview with the Daily Mail’s weekend magazine.

“You see me baring my teeth or pumping my fist but I’m a competitive sportswoman – that’s just how I am. If I’d been a dad of sons or a mum of daughters I don’t think I’d of been noticed in the same way.”

She said her decision to have Botox came after finding she had more spare time on her hands now her sons were both grown up and in relationships.

“You realise they have got somebody else in their lives who they share things with and can help them, so I’ve got a bit more time. I’ve also got a bit more money.

“I’ve been single for a couple of years so I’m just enjoying having time to myself – I’ve found I like shopping, I like lunching, I like going to the spa with my friends. I’ve had a bit of Botox because I always had very deep lines.”

Now Mrs Murray is enjoying the glitz and glamour of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Jude said that while her sons had teased her about her “terrible” dancing she said that they’ve actually been really supportive.

Big Brother winner Helen Wood decided to have cosmetic surgery and was joined by her BB best friends, Kim Kisselovich and Bianca Lake. They proved just how close they all were when they all decided to have cosmetic surgery together.

Helen, 27, decided to have a breast augmentation and went from a D cup to a DD cup. She previously has had a rhinoplasty so she said she felt completely at ease with having this procedure. Helen has been self conscious with her breasts since she had her son 10 years ago.

“Ever since I had my son 10 years ago my boobs were never the same. I had a massive complex about them so always wore padded bras and chicken fillets to make up for it.

“I just wanted a more natural look and size and I’ve never felt so sexy now. I can’t wait to start swanning around in my bikinis and underwear.”

Kim, who has just got engaged to fellow housemate Steven Goode, also went ahead with a breast enlargement so she can look better on her wedding day.

“I really wanted to get bigger boobs so I could fill out a gorgeous wedding dress. Before the operation my breasts looked good when I was naked but I’ve always wanted to be a curvy woman.”

Bianca rounded off the trio’s surgery with liposuction to the stomach and back. She was horrified when she watched some tapes of Big Brother back.